Max Rosenn Lecture Series in Law and Humanities

The Honorable Max Rosenn, Senior Judge

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Judge Max Rosenn’s long career as a public servant spanned many fields, including
law, philanthropy, public welfare, health and religion. He made innumerable contributions
to the enhancement of northeastern Pennsylvania, to state government, and to the federal
judiciary. Following the Hurricane Agnes Disaster of 1972, he played a vital role
in the rehabilitation of Greater Wilkes-Barre and its many neighboring communities
as chairman of the Flood Recovery Task Force for Wyoming Valley.

After receiving an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a law degree
from the University of Pennsylvania, Judge Rosenn commenced his legal career. He interrupted
that career to enter military service in World War II. After several years in the
South Pacific, he returned to his wife and sons and resumed the practice of law. He
entered state government in 1966 as secretary of public welfare for the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. As secretary, Judge Rosenn also served as a member of the cabinet
of Governor William W. Scranton and in the cabinet of his successor, Raymond Shafer,
and as chairman of the Governor’s Council for Human Services. Following his resignation
as Secretary and resumption of the practice of law, he served as chairman of the Pennsylvania
Human Relations Commission and chairman of the Legislative Executive Task Force to
Restructure Human Services for Pennsylvania. He also served as a member of the 1968
Governor’s Commission to Revise the Public Employee Laws of Pennsylvania. President
Nixon appointed him to the United States Court of Appeals in 1970.

He and wife, Tillie, were lifetime residents of the Wyoming Valley, have two sons,
Professor Keith and Dr. Daniel, and six grandchildren.

GIVE

In recognition of his exceptional contributions and his warm relationship with them,
Judge Rosenn’s former law clerks and former law firm Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald,
with the assistance of his family and friends, established in 1980 the Max Rosenn
Lecture Series in Law and Humanities.